No subject

with professional development expenses. I have worked in government contract
settings (engineering areas) and business settings (small and large (IBM,
NorTel, Federal Express, Harris Corporation, etc.)).

 

While teaching in higher education, I have not had employer support for
professional society expenses.

 

Costs for professional development are also increasing in other society
organizations where I am also a member. Unfortunately, through the years, I
have elected not to renew some of those dues as well. In one case, the
rationale for not renewing the dues dealt with lack of accessibility of the
journal for the Society. In other cases, it dealt with lack of interest. In
comparison with other societies where I hold memberships, STC was among the
last ones to implement a dues increase. Until 2007, I was a member of 11
professional societies, including STC. Prior to 2007, that number was 13.
(This professional development plan was designed in consultation with
graduate faculty.) This year, I limited my active involvement in
professional societies to 6 with plans to possibly increase to 7 by 2008.
One of the 13 dissolved.

 

When deciding whether to belong to a professional society, I ask one key
question:  "Will membership in the society be of value to me?" If members
fail to find "value", then, there may also be a decline in membership
growth.

 

--Gloria Reece

 

Gloria A. Reece, Ed.D.

Educator, Researcher, Consultant

New Media & Instructional Technology

Usability and Accessible Design

Technical & Professional Communication

Business Communication

 

93 Mariners Dr.

Milledgeville, GA  31061

(478) 453-8010

drgreece at windstream.net

 

 

  _____  

From: bounce-stc-ac-345065 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-345065 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Voss, Daniel W
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:34 AM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] RE: New Dues Structure for 2008

 

Hi, there.

 

I've been following this thread with keen interest and, I'll confess, mixed
feelings.  Since my primary occupation for the past 29 years has been as a
practitioner (technical marketing communication in aerospace) and since I've
been extremely fortunate in enjoying the support of my employer (Lockheed
Martin) over the past 15 years with regard to STC dues, conferences, and
direct philanthropic support to our local chapter, I don't feel comfortable
taking a position on whether or not $175 is a reasonable fee for STC to ask
of academe, or whether it is reasonable for the academy to expect a subsidy
to defray that cost.  Since I began in education and also have experience as
an adjunct instructor with several colleges and universities through my
career, I can certainly sympathize with the academy's concerns.  Indeed, the
$25 increase could pose a make-it, break-it economic barrier for some
members of academe (as well as for some practitioners).  But for most, I
suspect, the increase, while certainly not desirable, is manageable, weighed
against the benefits.

 

However, I do feel comfortable strenuously opposing the 94% increase in the
student membership fee to $75.  I don't think there is any doubt that will
pose a significant hardship to a large percentage of student members (and
potential student members).  I am concerned that if some form of relief is
not made available to students (whether it be forthcoming from the STC
geographical communities who are collocated with universities that have
student chapters or significant student memberhips within the local chapter,
from within the academy itself, or some combination thereof), STC's total
student membership could be decimated by this severe rate increase.

 

Maybe there aren't enough student members on this listserv to raise their
voices above the rest (I've heard just a couple), but as both a practitioner
and a part-time member of the academy, I believe the STC Board has made an
egregious strategic error--an error which, uncorrected, could rupture a
major pipeline of future leaders.  I recommend practitioners and academics
across STC's communities unite to find ways to fix this problem--and
preserve one of our most precious resources.

 

-Dan Voss, Fellow

Orlando Chapter

AccessAbility SIG

 

  _____  

From: bounce-stc-ac-277425 at lists.stc.org
[mailto:bounce-stc-ac-277425 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Graham, Winsome CAR
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:59 AM
To: stc-ac
Subject: [stc-ac] RE: New Dues Structure for 2008

All,

 

I am a TC practitioner enrolled in the MSTCO program at Mercer University.